Psalm 101:1-4
1 I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music. 2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; 3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.
This psalm is a profession of integrity. David vows to walk with integrity (verse 2) and to avoid evil (verse 4). As part of that commitment he also decides to guard his eyes, to not look upon "anything that is worthless" (verse 3). David understands that if one looks at "worthless" things, it will interfere with our ability to walk in purity and integrity. So what would this commitment look like for us, practically? I think it certainly means not looking at pornography. But it also means guarding what we look at in the media and advertising, which is full of ungodly images that lure us away from God's holiness. It also means guarding against staring and leering at attractive women we see in daily life. Now this can all seem rather strict, for our culture encourages us to be voyeurs, but if "a perverse heart shall be far from me" (verse 4), then we will need to be willing to take drastic actions, to "know nothing of evil" (verse 4).
Lord, help me to guard my eyes, and to know nothing of evil.
1 I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music. 2 I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; 3 I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. 4 A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.
This psalm is a profession of integrity. David vows to walk with integrity (verse 2) and to avoid evil (verse 4). As part of that commitment he also decides to guard his eyes, to not look upon "anything that is worthless" (verse 3). David understands that if one looks at "worthless" things, it will interfere with our ability to walk in purity and integrity. So what would this commitment look like for us, practically? I think it certainly means not looking at pornography. But it also means guarding what we look at in the media and advertising, which is full of ungodly images that lure us away from God's holiness. It also means guarding against staring and leering at attractive women we see in daily life. Now this can all seem rather strict, for our culture encourages us to be voyeurs, but if "a perverse heart shall be far from me" (verse 4), then we will need to be willing to take drastic actions, to "know nothing of evil" (verse 4).
Lord, help me to guard my eyes, and to know nothing of evil.